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Manager John Farrell said then that Hutchison’s injury was “clearly” less severe than Kyle Drabek’s — suffered a day earlier — for which there was consensus on the need for surgery. There was talk of Hutchison rejoining the starting rotation before the end of the season.

But after nearly two months of rest, rehab and deliberation with his family, Hutchison will join Drabek on the long road to recovery — except now he’s two months behind.

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“Certain steps towards a non-surgical rehab approach were taken and when he started to put a ball back in his hand he still felt some discomfort,” Farrell said Tuesday.

Hutchison saw four different doctors who all felt rest was the appropriate course of action in the immediate aftermath of the injury, Farrell said.

But when all therapeutic steps had had been exhausted and Hutchison saw no improvement, the surgery they had hoped to avoid became the only option.

Both Hutchison’s and McGowan’s surgeries will be performed Thursday in Florida by noted orthopedic surgeon and ligament specialist, Dr. James Andrews.

Hutchison and McGowan become the fifth and sixth Jays pitchers to have season-ending surgeries this year, joining Jesse Litsch, Kyle Drabek, Luis Perez and Sergio Santos.

Drafted in the 15th round of the 2009 draft, Hutchison rapidly ascended through the Jays’ minor-league system, breezing through four levels in two seasons on his way to his major-league debut in Kansas City on April 21.

He had pitched fewer than 60 innings for the Jays when he suffered the injury — the first of his career — ending his season with a 5-3 record, 4.60 ERA and 1.35 WHIP.

The reconstructive elbow surgery, named after former major-league pitcher Tommy John, replaces the damaged ulnar collateral ligament with a tendon from elsewhere in the body.

Meanwhile, this was supposed to be the season in which McGowan’s injury-riddled career got back on track.

The 30-year-old Georgia native missed half of the 2008 season, and all of 2009 and 2010, undergoing two shoulder surgeries in that time: first for fraying of the labrum and then a torn rotator cuff. He also had knee surgery in 2009 to repair a damaged ACL suffered while rehabbing his first shoulder surgery. He also had Tommy John in 2004.

He returned to the majors last September for the first time in more than three years and headed into spring training projected to be part of the Jays’ opening day rotation.

Then, with just 10 days remaining before the team broke camp, he injured the tendons in his right foot.

The next day the Jays signed him to a two-year contract extension that will pay him $1.5 million in 2013 and 2014, with a club option worth $4 million in 2015.

“It’s just a foot,” McGowan said at the time of the signing, when questioned about his latest injury, believed to be minor.

But while rehabbing, McGowan experienced pain in his right shoulder. Every time he tried to increase his throwing program, he suffered a setback.

The problem has yet to be clearly diagnosed, so Dr. Andrews will scope McGowan’s shoulder joint in an attempt to locate the specific issue.

The Jays currently have 13 players on the disabled list, tied with the San Diego Padres for most in the majors.

Blue Jays in sick bay

3B Brett Lawrie, rib cage tightness — Day-to-day

RF Jose Bautista, left wrist sprain — Suffered setback while taking first swings earlier this month, no timetable for his return

C J.P. Arencibia, broken hand — Possibly back by early September

1B/DH Adam Lind, back — Added to 15-day disabled list last week, no timetable for return

RHP Jason Frasor, forearm — Started throwing this week, may return later this month

RHP Brandon Morrow, strained oblique — scheduled to make third rehab start at Double-A new Hampshire on Thursday and could return later this month

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